Hydrogel

Abstract

A novel mussel-inspired injectable hydrogel with self-healing and anti-biofouling capabilities is developed, possessing great potential as drug delivery carrier. The hydrogel can heal autonomously from repeated structural damage and also effectively prevent nonspecific cell attachment and biofilm formation.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A polymer comprising at least one block A and one block B, where A is a thermo-responsive copolymer comprising at least one monomer having a lower critical solution temperature and at least one self-healing monomer and B is a hydrophilic polymer block, in which A is formed of a random copolymer and the random copolymer comprises DN where D is dopamine acrylamide and N is NIPAM. 
     
     
       2. The polymer of  claim 1  having the structure: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
       3. A polymer comprising at least one block A and one block B, where A is a thermo-responsive copolymer comprising at least one monomer having a lower critical solution temperature and at least one self-healing monomer and B is a hydrophilic polymer block, in which the self-healing monomer is provided with a self-healing property at least in part by catechol groups. 
     
     
       4. The polymer of  claim 3  in which A is formed of a random copolymer. 
     
     
       5. The polymer of  claim 3  in which the self-healing monomer is provided with a self-healing property at least in part by aromatic groups. 
     
     
       6. The polymer of  claim 5  in which A is formed of a random copolymer.